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How to clean soles of basketball shoes
How To Clean & Care For Your Basketball Shoes
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As a basketball player, you know how important your shoes are. Discover what you can do to help increase the longevity of your pair with these tips.
You know that feeling you get when you open up a box of new basketball shoes? You lift the lid and remove the paper barrier to reveal the fresh footwear lying inside. They are crisp and perfect with stuffing that evokes the way they’ll look on your feet. They even have a certain smell of newness. Don’t you wish they could stay that way?
Players wear their shoes to practice, to games and even around town, but how can you keep them looking and feeling the way they did on day one?
Consider the following tips to keep your basketball shoes clean and in shape longer.
STORE THEM RIGHT
After a game, you might be stuffing your shoes deep into your gym bag, in a hurry to head out for some fun with your teammates and friends.
But leaving them in your gym bag for an extended time can cause them to lose their shape, putting a lot of pressure on the seams. It can also lead to a buildup of odor, since they can’t air out properly.
Instead, you should store your shoes in an open room or closet with plenty of airflow after wearing them. This will allow them to dry out before your next use. Once they’ve had time to dry out, store your shoes in their original box, rather than on your bedroom floor where they are easily vulnerable to getting kicked around or tripped over.
To help keep your footwear even more fresh, try using a shoe deodorizer, which can come in solid form or an easy-to-use spray.
You may also consider having a couple pairs of basketball shoes and rotate them between games, giving each pair more time to dry and less time in active use.
WEAR THEM ONLY ON THE COURT
The cardinal rule is to never wear your indoor shoes outside.
Doing so can cause your basketball shoes to lose both grip and color faster. If you avoid exposing them to the elements, they will likely last much longer.
By only wearing your shoes on the court, you can keep them cleaner as well. That means less wear and tear and less work for you to maintain them.
KEEP THEM CLEAN
If you want to keep your shoes in tip-top shape, regular cleanings are essential.
You should, at the very least, clean them after every game. Why? It can reduce general odor, help prevent loss of traction by removing debris from your tread, and keep your basketball shoes from deteriorating by reducing grime that can wear down your tread.
First, as general warning, don’t put your shoes in a washer or dryer. You should also avoid completely immersing them in water. Use these steps as a guide to properly wash your basketball shoes:
Remove excess dirt using a soft-bristled shoe brush or tooth brush to clean the sole on the outside of your shoe.
Mix warm water with just a drop of laundry detergent (or, if leather, a specialty leather cleaner). Apply a small amount to a sponge or soft cloth to clean dirty areas of the shoe.
Remove your insole and clean using a water/detergent mix.
Rinse excess soap off of the shoe and insole using just water on a second sponge.
Air dry your shoes at room temperature. You shouldn’t leave your shoes to dry in the sunlight or use direct heat (like a hair dryer).
Basketball shoes are one of the most important pieces of equipment you own, so it’s important to take care of them. If you keep your shoes clean and in good shape, it should help keep your footing firm and your appearance crisp and sharp.
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4 Quick Ways to Get Grip on Your Basketball Shoes
Grip is an incredibly important part of any basketball shoes. No matter what surface you play on, being able to stick to the floor allows you to run, move, and cut to the best of your ability.
Soles wear down quickly. They also collect quite a bit of dirt. Both of those setbacks cause you to slip and slide while on the court. That then greatly hinders your ability to stop and go, which then makes it much harder to drive to the lane or play defense.
Even shoes with only slightly worn down grip can cause you to be one second too early or one second too late. In basketball, that makes all the difference.
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1. The Cleaning Method
Though grip wears down over time, there are quite a few ways to keep your shoes in good shape. The first, and perhaps most effective, is by cleaning them.
Many basketball shoes start to lose their traction as a result of the dirt and dust they pick up from the floor. That layer, even if barely noticeable, causes shoes to easily slide across the hardwood.
There are two different cleaning methods that will help eliminate that layer and reliably give you more grip no matter how much you play.
First, you can wet a washcloth and use it to wipe down the bottom of your shoe. Just make sure to get into the grooves. You don’t need to do a deep scrub, but you need to do enough to lift off the dirt particles.
If you want to go bigger, you can also clean your soles with a stiff bristle brush and soapy water. Scrubbing down your shoe in this manner gives a deeper clean. However, I find that it is quite comparable to using a rag. It comes down to personal preference and the amount of dirt on your shoes.
2. Utilizing Enhancers
If cleaning isn’t working, or if you want to take an extra measure on the top of cleaning, you can always turn to special grip enhancers.
Grip lotions are easily available sprays that coat your shoe to add more tackiness to the sole. A quick spritz will be more than enough to give you the extra grip you need.
There are also special sticky pads, also called sticky mats, that improve grip. These are primarily used in a gym setting, where they sit off to the side of the court. You then step on them before the game or during breaks to get a bit of extra adhesion.
Both of the above methods improve your shoe’s grip. Though they both work on their own, I often use them in combination with the washing method to get the best of both worlds.
Just remember to never use your basketball shoes outside. The traction is specifically made for hardwood. Using it on any other surface can quickly break down the rubber grooves and cause you to slip.
3. Fixing Grip in Game
Sometimes you’ll find your traction steadily breaking down in the middle of the game. If that occurs, you want to moisten your soles right away to ensure you don’t lose your edge.
That can be done through either quickly wiping them down with a damp rag (which some teams or gyms may have on the sideline) or by wetting your shoe with saliva.
Rinsing your hand in a drinking fountain and then wiping it across the bottom of your shoe can help your footwear stick. However, if there’s no time for that maneuver, licking your hand and wiping it on the bottom of your shoe works just as well.
I know the idea of licking your hand mid-game is not the most appealing idea, but it does work. I’ve done it more times than I care to admit, and it always leads to better traction.
4. A More Permanent Fix
No matter how much you use the above methods, there will be times where your shoe grip wears down past the point of no return. If that happens, you can have your soles fixed by a shoe repair service.
Getting your old sole replaced can make your pair feel brand new. It may not be as easy as cleaning the sole or buying spray, but it’s typically much cheaper than going out and buying a new pair.
Of course, if the tread is worn through and shoe repair isn’t an option, the only way to fix the grip is going to be purchasing new shoes.
Final Words
Many people give up on their basketball shoes too quickly. The traction doesn’t feel right, or they find themselves slipping on the court, and they try a new pair. However, there are many easy methods you can utilize to keep your grip strong.
Make sure to try different methods and figure out which one works best for you. Some shoes respond better to cleaning, while others do well with general moisture of sticky pads.
What’s your favorite method for improving your grip? Do you have your own tricks? Let us know in the comments below!
How to clean sneakers at home?
June 11, 2019
Cleaning sneakers is not a very difficult task, but only if you know how to do it well: if you do everything right, then after cleaning they will look like they were just bought, and if you do it wrong, you can damage them.
Caring for sneakers
You can find a lot of shoe cleaners in stores, and those that are designed to clean leather shoes, jackets, or car seats can also be used to clean leather sneakers. These shoes are very comfortable for sports or daily jogging.
Today, the choice of sneakers is very wide, a variety of materials, styles, colors are available - you can buy sneakers that stand out with something, however, atypical solutions are sometimes needed to clean them. And the universal sneakers that are used every day are not always so easy to clean, because they wear out, they may have stains that need to be removed. Therefore, further we will analyze simple ways to make your shoes look like new.
How to clean sneakers at home?
External cleaning
Pour water into a plate or other container, add a little detergent or laundry detergent to it, stir. Dip a toothbrush in the resulting solution and rub the sneakers - with the help of a cleaning agent, it will be much easier to remove the dirt. If you come across a particularly difficult stain, you can use undiluted dishwashing detergent or powder instead of a solution - pour it on a brush and rub the stain.
When the entire surface of the shoe has been treated in this way, you need to wipe the sneakers with a damp cloth and remove the remnants of the cleaning agent. Important: try to use less water on the leather parts of the shoes.
A screwdriver can be used to remove stubborn dirt. To make the sole completely clean, you need to soak it in water and rub it with a brush.
After that, slightly moisten an eraser in water and walk it along the sole - this way you can remove the dirt deeply embedded in it.
Finally, rub the sole with your finger with a damp cloth wrapped around it to set the effect. Then it remains only to carefully wipe it with a clean, damp cloth so that there are no stains left, if they dry out, then it will also not be easy to completely clean them off.
During cleaning, pay special attention to the sock - water should not accumulate there. Also, place paper towels inside your shoes to keep water out.
Cleaning insole
The main task is to remove the smell, and baking soda is used to solve it. You just need to pour it a little inside the shoes and leave it for a couple of hours, then shake it out and wipe the insole with a clean cloth.
What to do with laces?
Instead of buying new laces, you can often just clean the old ones. To do this, when you wash your bedding, just put them in a pillowcase. It is important to set the mode of the most gentle wash.
Tongue cleaning
It needs to be soaked, then squeezed. To prevent water from getting inside the sneaker, you can wrinkle it with a paper or regular towel. After that, you need to rub it with your fingers or a soft cloth, with powder or dishwashing detergent applied to them. You do not need to use a brush, as the material on the inside of the tongue is delicate and can be damaged. Finally, rinse it to remove the cleaning agent.
How to dry sneakers?
First, squeeze the water out of the tongue - do not press hard on it. After that, put the sneakers in front of the fan on - so they dry quickly under the air flow. But you should not use a hair dryer: because of the hot air, there is a risk of damaging the glue.
Suede sneakers - how to clean them:
General cleaning
For suede, the above method is not suitable; you need to use a special eraser designed specifically for this material. For dirty sneakers or removing stains, you will need a suede brush - its rubber bristles are soft on one side and hard on the other.
You need to remove water stains with water: first fill the sneakers with paper, then spray water on the suede surface and wipe it with a brush. After the surface dries, apply a suede cleaner to it.
Removal of fresh stains
If the stain is just there, use a paper towel to remove the excess, but do not press on the stain itself, much less rub it into the suede. If the stain is dry, wipe it with a wet cloth, then wait until it dries again and use an eraser or a suede brush to remove it.
If the instruction was attached to the sneakers, you should follow it and buy the recommended products. Depending on the manufacturer, the material may have its own characteristics, due to which one agent may be more effective, and another may damage it.
You need to wet the suede carefully, without touching it with water and applying the minimum sufficient amount to get rid of dirt. Always pick up any remaining moisture and cleaning agent with a damp cloth. And, of course, you can’t just throw sneakers into the washing machine - after this, their shape or fabric can be severely damaged, and even if this does not happen, they will completely get wet and lose their protective layer.
After regular cleaning, white sneakers may remain more gray than the original shade. This problem can be solved both with the help of ready-made bleaching agents, and with folk methods.
Of the latter, it is worth highlighting:
toothpaste with a few drops of lemon juice;
a solution of washing powder, lemon juice, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide - you need to take three parts of the powder and one each of the rest;
solution of soda ash (three parts), liquid soap (two), and toothpaste (one).
It is necessary to walk with a brush with a product on the surface of the sneakers, and then remove the remnants with a rag.
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What to do if sneakers slip in the hall
When leading an active lifestyle, you need to control your own health and, above all, do not harm it. Properly selected footwear helps to keep fit and not harm the body. Therefore, you need to buy comfortable, high-quality sneakers that are designed specifically for sports activities. Often, during training in the gym, the surface is slippery, which leads to injuries. In addition, some of the products have a sliding sole, which does not allow the foot to be firmly fixed on the floor surface.
In some cases, the product slips heavily on the floor in an enclosed area. The problem of slippery soles of sneakers worries many people involved in sports, so it is necessary to take into account the recommendations of experts. To get rid of the problem, you should use several effective methods that have been tested by time.
Choice of shoes for the gym
To reduce the chance of slipping in the gym, you need to choose the right shoes. When choosing shoes, you should focus on the following nuances:
Shoes with a wide toe and a narrower heel should be preferred. Such a product will provide proper adhesion to the coating.
Buy shoes that are specifically designed for training. The developers of such models of sneakers specifically produce a silhouette with characteristic features for comfortable use.
Each shoe manufacturer has its own line for indoor and outdoor training.
For each type of sport, different designers produce separate types of sports shoes. It is advisable to buy products that are designed for such purposes from trusted manufacturers who have proven themselves well.
Go to a workshop
The surest way to eliminate the slip of a sole is to take it to a shoe shop. But, this option is more expensive. The specialist attaches silicone pads to the sole to provide proper grip and prevent slipping.
If the product is given for repair, you need to clarify to the master that it is planned to be worn in the gym.
The main advantage of this method will be the preservation of a bright appearance. The specialist does everything carefully and reliably, because the appearance of the product remains the same. Various homemade methods can ruin the look of sneakers. Therefore, when it is important to maintain quality and presentability, it is advisable to go to the workshop.
Apply glue with sand
This method is considered the most budgetary and extremely effective. The meaning is as follows: Moment glue is purchased in the store and applied evenly to the sole. Before the procedure, it is required to clean the product from contamination and dry it. When the surface is smeared with glue, it is required to become sneakers on the sand. Wait for the final drying of the glue. The sand on the sole can last longer than the patch, so the technique will be more effective.
Sandpaper
When at home there is no glue, but there is emery, you can use it. The following is done:
The product is degreased properly.
Sandpaper is taken and the sole is rubbed properly.
To get more effect, several pieces of paper are glued to the bottom of the product with superglue.
The sole is rubbed carefully so that holes do not appear.
Homemade protector
When sneakers have a flat, smooth sole, small screws help to add relief to it and eliminate slipping. They are screwed into several places. To prevent the pointed end from causing damage to the shoe before the procedure, it is necessary to bite off the pointed part with pliers.
This technique is available only in a situation where the product has a dense, wide sole, thin screws are able to deform.
Sweetened water
This sweetened drink is considered one of the most common ways for people who play sports to eliminate slipping. The algorithm of actions is simple:
Before training, the platform of the shoe is poured with a drink.
Left for a quarter of an hour until completely dry.
Then you can head to the hall without any hesitation. Slip will be completely eliminated.
Other methods
There are situations where the lower limbs slip due to dirty or wet surfaces. In such a situation, it is necessary to constantly wipe the bottom of the shoe so that it remains clean, monitor the coverage in the gym.
In addition to the main ways to help prevent slipping, there are other proven ways:
It is possible to rub the bottom of the sneakers with wax, raw potatoes or fatty oil.
Chewing gum or 2-sided adhesive tape is glued to the sole.
Similar options are also common, but they are one-time, because the tape or gum can come off.
For indoor sports to be comfortable and safe, you need to choose the right running shoes. When sports shoes are comfortable, but slippery, this problem needs to be fixed as soon as possible, as this becomes a provoking factor in injuries. Following the above recommendations, it is possible to eliminate this complexity completely.
Just make sure to get into the grooves. You don’t need to do a deep scrub, but you need to do enough to lift off the dirt particles.
You then step on them before the game or during breaks to get a bit of extra adhesion.
And the universal sneakers that are used every day are not always so easy to clean, because they wear out, they may have stains that need to be removed. Therefore, further we will analyze simple ways to make your shoes look like new. 
You just need to pour it a little inside the shoes and leave it for a couple of hours, then shake it out and wipe the insole with a clean cloth. 
But you should not use a hair dryer: because of the hot air, there is a risk of damaging the glue. 
Depending on the manufacturer, the material may have its own characteristics, due to which one agent may be more effective, and another may damage it. 
This problem can be solved both with the help of ready-made bleaching agents, and with folk methods. 
Properly selected footwear helps to keep fit and not harm the body. Therefore, you need to buy comfortable, high-quality sneakers that are designed specifically for sports activities. Often, during training in the gym, the surface is slippery, which leads to injuries. In addition, some of the products have a sliding sole, which does not allow the foot to be firmly fixed on the floor surface. 
Such a product will provide proper adhesion to the coating. 
The specialist does everything carefully and reliably, because the appearance of the product remains the same. Various homemade methods can ruin the look of sneakers. Therefore, when it is important to maintain quality and presentability, it is advisable to go to the workshop. 
Slip will be completely eliminated. 
